Universally adjustable swivel base



y 1944- N. R. SCHWARTZ 2,352,306

UNIVERSALLY ADJUSTABLE SWIVEL BASE Filed April 29, 1943 MW 58 54 l V 177' TOR/V5 Y Patented July 4, 1944 UNITED time and SWIV L BASE: N athan-Rodney Schwartz New York, N. Y. Y 1 Application April 9, 1943, SerialNo. 485,084

7 Claims. 01. 248446) This invention relates to electric lamps .01 theincandescent or fluorescent type, and has-more particular reference toimprovements'in adjust-1 able electric lamps; I

Modern industrial establishments, particularly those producing precisionwork, require electric lamps which maywberso adjusted as ,to make itpossible topcast light upon any spot-,regardless of its'angularrelationship to .the' position of such lamps i I a With this inview, it is 'thevprincipaliobj'ect of this invention to provide a swivelbase on which an electric lamp may be mounted; byzmeans'of which a lampattached to itmay be rotatively adjusted. l 1 1 :Another feature of thepresent invention lies in the provision of a swivel base with means forautomatically retaining a lamp attached to it in any adjusted position.

Still another advantage of this inventionis to provide a swivel unithaving means for limiting the rotative movement of alamp mountedthereon, thus preventing damage to or twisting ofthe electric cablewhich would' result from continued rotation in one direction; I And it'is "yet another aim ofthis-inventionto provide a swivel 'unitwhereinone spring'cohtrols the ro'tative adjustment thereof.-

A still-further object of this invention lies in the provisiomof auniversallyadjustable base for an electric-lamp, which is completelyprotected against entrance therein; otoil, water and other foreignmatter which would interfere with the'efiicient operation of the device.

the provision oi a universally adjustable swivel base which does notdepend upon gravity in its operation and; which therefor may be attachednot only to a horizontal surface, such as a work bench, but as well to avertical surface such as a wall, or to asurface of any angularity; v I'And it is still another aim ofthis' invention' to provide an'adjustable swivel base which does not require the adjustment of wingnuts or' set screws to achieve angulardisplacement, which is notafi'ected by machine vibration, and, which will not become loose as'th'eresult'of such' vibra tion. These and other meritorious objects andadvantages are achieved by'the combination,' construction andarrangemen'ti'of few and siin'ple parts, hereinafter described, andillustrated in the 'accompanying drawing; forming a material component ofthis disclosuregfandiu 'whichz fYet another aim of this inventionresides" in 3 Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, oflauniversally adjustable swivel base, constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, Figure ,2 is .a bottomcplan viewl thereof, partsbeing broken away to. show. the. relative arrangement of the.severalparts. Figure 3 is an exploded perspectiveyiewjof, {the lowerpart of thehousing and thetrotationjlimiting washers, the severalgpartslbeing fdrawn;,t.o an enlargeds'c'ale. ,l I; j l .l. .1

Figure l, is a; fragmentary sectional, view; of part of the. base and,partl joflrtlie housing .mount.-' ed-therein, showing the meansforlimiting'the rotative movement of the,housing. T ,j Figure, 5 is afragmentary.,sectional ,viewof a modified form oflthepresent invention,Figure 6 is a sectional view of the modification, the section-beingtaken on line 67-6. of.Fig-. ure 5. 1 Figure 7 'is atop plan view' ofthe fibre washer forthe spherical member, "showing! its elongatedcentral opening. I 1 4 Referring in greater detail m thedrawmg, thenumeral I 0 designates; idgnefail a tlii'iiwalled metallic housing,"cylindrical in gcantour, which merges at its upper end-into arounded-portion ll. At its lower endjhousing lqturned .rec tangularlywith respect tethe. cylindricalI'sfifface of the housingformingafiareJZ; At th bottom .near the outerrim thereof, flare ['2- has twodowni'eachingulu'g'sf- .13' stamped out of its material; at" diagonallyo posite use; or the flare, the purpose of whichwillpresentlyfbedescribed. V Y t The swivel unit further comprises a'hollowsphericalmember 14 having two fiat sides [5 at opposite sides of, eachother. Ati its upper end, member 15' is provided'witli an integralnipple l6, extending upwardly beyond housing In and having. interiorthreads I! for a purpose to .be' presently explained. J While, nipple}l6 is: er described as "being" an" integral" part of swive Compressionspring seats on a round metal 3 I washer 24 and, in order to preventfriction between the metal flare l2 and washer 24, there is insertedbetween these two members, a fibre ring, made of mica or other suitablematerial, as is indicated at 25, the width of ring 25 being equal to thedistance between the edge of housing It and the rim of flare 52, so thatit does not extend outwardly beyond said flare. While this ring has beenfound to be desirable, it may be omitted if applicant so desires;

Washer 24, at diametrically opposite sides, is provided with twosubstantially rectangular cutouts 25-26 extending from the outer rim ofsaid washer inwardly, the cut-outs" 25--26 being slightly greater inwidth 'than'thewidth of lugs l3 which are adapted tO'b'e engagedtherein. Midway between the two cut-outs 25-46, washer 24 has a'downreaching' lug stamped out of its material, near the'r'imthereof, asisshown at 21 in the drawing. Washer 24 has a circular opening initscenter, about which, on the bottom of said washer, an integral neck3| is formed, upon which is mounted a friction preventing fibre ringwasher 32 of mica or other desirable substance having a central opening33 therein. Washer 32 is of smaller diameter than the diameter of Washer24 so that, when the device is assembled, washer 32 willnot covercut-outs 25=26 or interfere with the function of lug 21.

A hollow base 34 cast out of iron orany other desirable material isadapted to house the several washers; tension spring and flared portionl2 of housing l0; This'base is hereillustrated as being circular incross-section, but-it'may be made iii" any other desirable shape. 'Itmay for m stance be'rectangula'r' or'oblong; The upper portion of base34' is constricted to form a'shoulder by which the severalelementsjus't' enumerated are retained, and the base then'terminates ina neck portion 35;

All of the several elements are locked in op'erthe base, as isillustrated in Figure l'of'the draw-- 1 ing. The said shoulder portionis provided with a plurality of'screw holes 31, each of which is adaptedto have a screw or 'othe'r'fa'stening means entered therein; forsecuring the'base to a; support. Retainer washer" 361s provided, at itsrim, withan'equaln'umber of cut-outs 38to permit the passage ofthefastening means. Washer'36 may be permanently secured to theinner sideof the shoulder portion ofbalse"34"a'nd'towards that end, washer36*hasaplurality' of screw holes '39 through which'may' pass'screws' 40or" other 'de-' sirable fastening means; A central opening 4| is'formedin washer36.

'Base'34"is' furthermore provided, at its side,

. with anopening' '42 "forapurpo'se to be presently the base, or it maybe welded or otherwise semanner in which the rotation limiting means isarranged. The spherical member here employed is identical with thatemployed in the device illustrated in Figure 1. This spherical-member isretained in housing 50, the lower end portion of which is flared as at5|. At one point, flared portion 5| has formed integrally therewith afinger 52. If desired, finger 52 may be a separate unit, securedto'theflare by welding or otherwise. Finger 52 lies in the path of adepending lug 53 formed on the inside of the shoulder portion of base54. Lug 53 may be an integral part of cured to said base. To preventfriction between the flared portion 5| and the shoulder portion of base54, a friction preventing fibre ring 56 may be inserted between thesetwo elements, if desired. Compression spring 51, adapted. to urgethe-spherical member upwardly within the housing, rests on fibre washer53 which fibre washer may be made of mica many other desirable material, washer 58 in turn being retained in adjusted position byaretaining washer'59, both the fibre washer and the retainerwasher-having a centralopening therein;

The device may be preferably assembled in the following. manner: 7

Friction preventing ring, if one is used, is placed upon the upper faceof flared member [2 of house ing H] by slipping it upon the housing andflare in an obvious manner. Housing I0 is then en-. tered into base, 34from the bottom thereof until the flared portion I2 abuts the'shoulderportion of base 34. Spherica1 member 14 is thereupon enteredinto housingIn from the bottom thereof, in such manner, that fiat sides l5 will beparallel with flats 23. Concavely curved retainer ring 19 which, havinga substantially oblong opening in itscenter, is so placed into thehousing, that the two narrow sidesof the opening will come to liebelowthe flats 23. Thencom pression spring ZU is; placed intohousing l0,and w sh firme up n i in uch mannentli th lugs. 3. w ll. tem t-q s25?5., w her s lw l fa d rs as w ll n qk qr: mm?! u nyh qh is n w niedfi r di .33.- a d a l ret i in a er 6 i e s edin eihs base and qu ii ipe ineie eni m egs through holes; 39 and corresponding holes in theinner side of the shoulder memb er of bas 34. Boss fllfon washer 3''tjv'vill faceinwardly.'

.T e. bp ia n bf the. de i e ebwfb e sier? Re iant. I asmu h a iih epnle. W a ini rig th ea lamiir earin emiti in rt iw threads. may b sewed 399 t e. 91 ai to prevent the remote possibility that one may beinadvertentlysevered fromthe other, 'set screw I 8 may be. provided asan aid in retaining the twb parts ih operative ebhh 10h. Elctric'wiresextending" from' the 'lamp-bearing arm may. be entered through thedevice, snd'rdr that' 'pi 1i-: pose," each of the elements 'whicli'comprise this swivel base has a central opening therein. The electricwires may then -be'diavv'ii out'o'f the'base anhrougn' eyelet '42, iftnartypecr base i'siised', \vhich' is optional; 'Ilrieielitire housingma be rotated'u'p to substantianynne' 66m leter tion'ir'ieithei'dii'ction.

andnturther rotationy-inthat. direction will be prevented. flhehousingcan' then be turned-in themtherdirection,luntil the same positionis reached. Obviously such rotative movement may stop at any-desiredposition, and the device will be automatically retained in thatpositions .:,The modified-form of; this invent-ionis'. as: Sembled in.asimilar manner except that washer 2,4;isghereeliminated, the springresting on the fibre iwasher. ,Limitation of,:the rotative movement;Qfthe housing in this instance results when lugs 53;.and. 5.2,meet.:Sincethey are in the path of one;another,-further rotationiin thedirection in; whioh rotation was had isi-stopped. Rotation in; the-otherdirection is possible; until the meet: ing of these two members againtakes place.

.1": Many modifications ofv-this device are possible and: may be called'for to suit varying requirements. One of these. modifications may haveto do :with means for preventing the spherical memher from rotating in.the housing. Applicant hereabove. has illustrated two flats 23.secured'to the housing by welding or otherwise. These flats howevermaybe made'integral with the housing, .Other 'means to accomplish thesame end may be;devised. For instance'pinst'ead of providing 1 thehousing with flats, 'two upreaching extensions may be secured to fibrewasher l9, or madean integral part thereof. When assembled, these:extensions will lie parallel with the I fiat side ofthe swivel memberng1 t 9 1 The; number and relative positions of a the several cut-outsmay' be changed, and the eyelet at base 34ma'y beeliminat'ed." 7Provisi'on' may b'emade to prevent fibrewasher Hirom rotatinginthehousing. For instance, washer I9 may be provided with a vertical slot,adapted to engage a corresponding key in'the base, The several" Washersbelow the spring, identified by the numerals24, 32 and 36 in theprincipal. embodiment, and by the numerals i and 59 in themodificatibmm'ay be j'oined at their center" opening"Icircumfer'entially by a grommet, which serves the additional purpose ofgrounding 1a r V J Also, while throughout the description, reference hasbeen made to industrial lamps, applicant in no wise desires to berestricted to the application of his invention to such purpose. Theswivel base here described can be used equally efiectively for manyother purposes, such as desk lamps, draftsmens lamps, home lamps and infact, efiective use can be made wherever it is desirable to vary theangularity of light rays.

There has thus been described and illustrated a simple, yet extremelyefficient swivel base in two of its preferred forms. This disclosurehowever is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and notas limitative or restrictive to the exact details shown, and applicantreserves the right to make such changes therein, as come within thescope of the appended claims without departure from the spirit of thisinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A universally adjustable swivel base comprising a base member, ahousing rotatably mounted therein, a spherical member in said housing,means in said housing urging said swivel member upwardly, a washer onwhich said urging means is seated, means enterable in' said base memberlocking said housing in said base member, and means cooperating betweensaid washer and ,said lockingmeans; limiting: the LID-1" tativemovementof.saidhousing. 1 i3; .a: 2. In ,aemiversally adjustable swivelbase mem? ber, thecombination of :a base, a thin-walled housingrotatablymounted therein, asphericai member :in said housing, meansinsaid housing urging said spherical member upwardly, a washer'on whichsaid urgingmeansseats, means (20-,- operating between said washerandsaid housing to engage said washer and said housing, a fibre ringinterposable :between said. housing and said washer, aretainer washerlocking said housing ingsaidf base member, and means "cooperatingbetween :said; first named washer and said re+ tainer washer limitingthev rotative movement of said housing.

a 3. A universally adjustable swivelwbase to which anelectric lampbearing arm may be attached, said swivel base comprising a base memherhaving a horizontal upper surface and cylindrical sides, a centralcircular opening in said upper surface, a thin-walled. metallic housingro-' tatably mounted inv said-opening, said-housing havinga cylindricalsurface merging at one endinto a rounded apex of spherical v-nature,--:aspherical member in said-housing, means integral with said housingpreventing the rotation of said. spherical member, a nipple integralwith said spherical member, said nipple extending up'- u ardly beyondsaid-housing, saidnipple having internal means to receive an-electriclamp bearing arm, a washer on which said spherical mem ber seats, meansurging said-washer -upwardly against said spherical member, a Washer-onwhich said urging meansseats, a retainer washer locking said housing insaid base member, andmeans cooperating between said'last twowasherslimiting the rotative movement of said housing in said base. I r4.'-In a universally adjustable-swivel base to which an electric lamparm having electric wires extending therefrom may be attached, a; basemember having cylindrical sides and a horizontal upper surface,a-central-circular opening in said upper surface, a shoulderformed-insaid base member near the uppersurface thereof, a thin-" walled housingrotatably mounted in said base member, said housing having a cylindricalouter surface and merging at one end into a rounded upper portion ofspherical nature, the other end of said housing turned outwardly to forma flared portion, a spherical member completely enclosed in saidhousing, said spherical member having two opposed substantially fiatsides, a hollow cylindrical nipple integral with said spherical memberat the upper end thereof, means in said nipple adapted to retain anelectric lamp arm, said nipple extending upwardly beyond said housing,means cooperating between said fiat sides of said spherical member andsaid housing preventing said spherical member from rotating in saidhousing, a concavely curved washer on which said spherical member seats,a spring urging said spherical member upwardly, a washer for saidspring, a plurality of cut-outs in said washer, downreaching means onsaid flared portion of said housing engaging said cutouts, a retainerwasher locking said housing in said base member, means cooperatingbetween said two washers limiting the rotative movement of said housing,and a passageway extending downwardly through said swivel base for thepassage of electric wires therethrough.

5. In a universally adjustable swivel base to which an electric lightarm having electric wires extending. therefrommay be attached the combnnation of a hollow baseimemben having a cylindrical outersurface and:a-flat top; said top constricted-at: its center cf orming: a neckportionc a circular openingiin its center, a swivel unitre tatablymountedv therein; said: swivel unit com prising athinwalled-cmetallichousing- .havi ng a cylindrical outer surface, saidoutersurface merging :at one. end into .a-= rounded upper por tiom ofspherical nature, the otherhendzofisaid housing turned. outwardly :toiorm. aiifiairedpor-- tion, .a spring-pressed spherical member; completelyenclosecl virrsaiclhousing, a;.nipple integral with saidspherical. member 'extendingiupwardly beyond .said housing. said nipplehaving-threads in its interior for attachment to an .electricxlamp arm,a metallic washerior said spring, .a vretainer washer lockingsaid swivelunit. inisaid base member, means cooperating between said metallicwasher and .saidretainer washer limiting the rotative movement of saidhousing to slightly less'than one complete revolution in .eitherdirection, and vertically extending means through said swivel unit forthe passage of electric wires therethrough. i

6. In a universally, adjustable swivel base, the combination of a basemember having a hollow interior, cylindrical sides and a fiat top,saidtop constricted to form a neck portion,;.a circular opening in itscenter, and a swivelunit rotatably mounted therein, said swivelunitcom-prisinga thinewalled metallic housing having a cylindricaloutersurface merging at its upper end into a rounded vupper portion ofspherical nature, acircular opening at the topof said rounded upperportion, a spherical member completely enclosed in said housing, saidspherical member having. a vertical opening extending therethrough, ahollow cylindrical nipple at the top of said spherical member extendingupwardly beyond said housing, threads in said nipple for attachment ofan electric lamp arm thereto having electric wires therefrom, a fibrewasher for said spherical member, said fibre washer having asubstantially flat bottomv and a concavely curved upper-face, an oblongopening. extending vertically through asaa soc said fi-bre washer,- acoiied: compression s ring urging said fibrewasheruupwardlygthe-lower-end of said'housingforming a =flaredzportlon;aurictionepreventing :band'interposable'between said fiared'portion "andsaid base member, a plurality of dependinglugsom theunden side 'ofsaidflared portion .acircular metallic wash'enior-said spring, acircularopening in its i center, i said metallic washer provided with a:plurality of cutouts for said lugs,v a. downreaching: lugon said:--m'etal-lic washer, a.-. metallic retainer washer, aplurality oilscrewopenings -..therein, a boss amine upper facesof said retainer washer,acircular opening in the center of said washer, said icircular openingsin said. swivel unit afor the passage-pf. :electric sides to preventsaid swivel member from-rotate ing in said housing, a fibre washer-for;said swivel member, a spring urging ,said lfibreg washer up.- wardlyagainst said swivel member, afibre-washer on which said spring seats, acentralcircular opening therein, a retainer washer tolock said housingin said base, means cooperating between said base and said.retainer-washerto limit the rotative movement of said housing toslightly less than one complete revolution in either direction, aplurality of slots in said housing at opposite sides thereof, extendingfrom saidrounded upper portion to points therebelow to receive saidnipple for angular adjustment of said swivel member up to degreesrelative to its normalaxis', said central circular openings formingapassageway for the passage of electric wires therethroughf.-

NATHAN RODNEY SCHWARTZ.

